Thermal cycling

ABSTRACT

A processing apparatus includes a carrier receiving region configured to receive a sample carrier with at least one channel that carries at least one sample. The apparatus further includes a thermal control device configured to thermal cycle the sample carrier when the sample carrier is installed in the carrier receiving region, thereby thermal cycling the sample carried therein. The apparatus further includes a thermal control system configured to control the temperature control device based on a predetermined set of target sample temperatures and a temperature map, which maps the predetermined set of target sample temperatures to a set of temperatures of the temperature control device. The set of temperatures of the temperature control device is different from the predetermined set of target sample temperatures, and the set of temperatures of the temperature control device thermal cycle the sample carrier with the temperatures of the predetermined set of target sample temperatures.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following generally relates to thermal cycling and is described withparticular application to DNA sample processing such as DNA sequencing;however, the following is also amenable to other DNA sample processingand/or non-DNA sample processing.

BACKGROUND

A micro-channel device, such as a biochip, a lab-on-a-chip, etc. hasbeen used to carry a small volume of a sample such as a DNA sample inone or more channels for processing, which, in one instance, hasincluded thermal cycling the sample. By way of example, DNA sequencinghas included replicating DNA fragments by a process called polymerasechain reaction (PCR), which requires rapid and precise thermal cyclingof the sample multiple times through a predetermined set oftemperatures. Unfortunately, temperature fluctuations from any of thepredetermined temperatures of more than a half a degree may degradereplication.

A thermoelectric cooler (TEC), such as a Peltier device, is athermoelectric heat pump, which transfers heat from one side of thedevice to the other side of the device, and has been used in connectionwith DNA sequencing for thermocycling samples. In use, a voltage isapplied across the TEC device, which is in thermal communication withthe portion of the micro-channel device carrying the DNA fragment forPCR, to create a temperature gradient for transferring heat away fromthe sample to cool the sample and towards the sample to heat the sampleto thermal cycle the sample. The polarity of the applied voltagedetermines whether the device heats or cools the sample.

For PCR, the temperature of a fragment has been estimated based on atemperature at the periphery of the micro-channel device. Thistemperature is used to regulate the temperature of the TEC device tothermal cycle the DNA fragment based on the set of predeterminedtemperatures. Unfortunately, this temperature does not well-reflect thetemperature of the sample channels. For example, FIG. 1 shows atemperature 102 at the periphery of the device and temperatures 104,106, 108 at different channels of the device for three different targettemperatures 110, 112, 114. As shown, the temperatures 104-108 do nottrack well to the temperature 102. As a consequence, replication may bedegraded.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the application address the above matters, and others.

In one non-limiting aspect, a sample processing apparatus includes acarrier receiving region configured to receive a sample carrier with atleast one channel that carries at least one sample. The apparatusfurther includes a thermal control device configured to thermal cyclethe sample carrier when the sample carrier is installed in the carrierreceiving region, thereby thermal cycling the sample carried therein.The apparatus further includes a thermal control system configured tocontrol the temperature control device based on a predetermined set oftarget sample temperatures and a temperature map, which maps thepredetermined set of target sample temperatures to a set of temperaturesof the temperature control device. The set of temperatures of thetemperature control device is different from the predetermined set oftarget sample temperatures, and the set of temperatures of thetemperature control device thermal cycle the sample carrier with thetemperatures of the predetermined set of target sample temperatures.

In another non-limiting aspect, a method includes controlling atemperature of a thermal control device, which is in thermalcommunication with a channel of a sample carrier carrying a sample beingprocessed, based on a set of target sample temperatures and atemperature map, which maps the set of target sample temperatures to aset of temperatures of the thermal control device that thermal cycle thesample based on the set of target sample temperatures.

In yet another non-limiting aspect, a method for determining atemperature map that maps a set of target temperatures of a sample to aset of temperatures of a thermal control device used to thermal cycle achannel carrying the sample at the set of target temperatures, includesobtaining the set of target temperatures of the sample. The methodfurther includes controlling a temperature of the thermal control deviceso that a temperature of a channel of a calibration carrier is at theset of target temperature. The method further includes measuring thetemperature at a periphery of the calibration carrier concurrently withcontrolling the temperature of the thermal control device so that thetemperature of the channel is at the set of target temperatures. Themethod further includes determining the temperature map based on thetemperature of the channel and the temperature at the periphery of thecalibration carrier.

In yet another non-limiting aspect, a calibration carrier includes aplurality of channels and one or more thermocouples, each thermocoupleaffixed to a different channel of the plurality of channels. The one ormore thermocouples are configured to generate a signal that mapstemperatures at one or more of the plurality of channels to temperaturesapplied to the calibration carrier.

Those skilled in the art will recognize still other aspects of thepresent application upon reading and understanding the attacheddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The application is illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like referencesindicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example graph showing the temperature at theperiphery of a micro-channel device and channel temperatures for a setof predetermined target temperatures using a prior art approach tothermal cycle the sample at the set of predetermined targettemperatures;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example sample processing apparatus, including athermal control system for controlling thermal cycling a thermal controldevice used to thermal cycle samples;

FIG. 3 illustrates the sample processing apparatus of FIG. 2 with asample carrier installed therein;

FIG. 4 illustrates the sample processing apparatus of FIG. 2 with acalibration carrier installed therein;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example graph showing the relationship betweenthermal control device temperatures and sample carrier channeltemperatures, which are maintained at the set of predetermined sampletarget temperatures;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example graph showing the temperature at theperiphery of a sample carrier and channel temperatures for the set ofpredetermined sample target temperatures using an approach in which thetemperature of the thermal control device is controlled based on the setof sample target temperatures, temperatures measured at the periphery ofthe sample carrier, and a mapping between channel temperature and thetemperature at the periphery of the sample carrier;

FIG. 7 illustrated an example approach for determining a temperaturemap, which maps channel temperature to the temperature at the peripheryof the sample carrier; and

FIG. 8 illustrated an example approach for employing the temperature mapto thermal cycle samples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a sample processing apparatus 202, whichis configured to concurrently process multiple samples, for example, DNAsamples in connection with DNA sequencing. In other embodiment, thesample processing apparatus 202 is configured to process other samples,individually or in parallel, for example, in connection with enzymatic,protein, and/or other analysis.

The sample processing apparatus 202 includes a carrier receiving region204, which is configured to receive a carrier such as a sample carrier206 or a calibration carrier 208. FIG. 3 shows the sample processingapparatus 202 with the sample carrier 206 installed therein, and FIG. 4shows the sample processing apparatus 202 with the calibration carrier208 installed therein. The carrier receiving region 206 supports thecarrier installed in the sample processing apparatus 202.

The sample carrier 206 includes a micro-channel device such as abiochip, a lab-on-a-chip, etc. with one or more micro-channels 210, eachconfigured to carry a bio-sample such as a DNA sample, blood, saliva,skin cells, etc. for processing. The sample carrier 206 also includes atleast a PCR region 212.

The calibration carrier 208 is similar to sample carrier 206 in that thecalibration carrier 208 is made out of a material with similar thermalproperties, has similar geometry, includes a plurality of micro-channels214, and has a PCR region 216. However, the calibration carrier 208 alsoincludes a plurality of thermocouples 218, each in thermal communicationwith a different one of the micro-channels 214 in the PCR region 216. Inone instance, each channel includes its own thermocouple. In anotherinstance, only a sub-set (e.g., first, middle and last, or othercombination) of the channels include thermocouples. The thermocouples218 generate signals indicative of the temperatures of the channels 214in the PCR region 216.

The processing apparatus 202 further includes one or more processingstations (PS) 220 ₁, . . . , 220 _(N) (wherein N is an integer equal toor greater than one), which are configured to process the samplescarried by the sample carrier 206. In the context of DNA processing, theprocessing stations 220 are configured to carry out acts such asextraction/purification of DNA fragments from a sample, labeling of theextracted fragments with different fluorescent dyes, replication of thelabeled fragments, separation of the replicated labeled fragments, andanalysis of the separated fragments.

In the illustrated embodiment, replication, generally, is achievedthrough polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which includes thermal cycling,one or more times (e.g., 10-50), the DNA fragments rapidly and preciselyover a set of temperatures respectively corresponding to denaturing,annealing and extending, while maintaining each temperature for apredetermined duration of time. In one instance, the set of temperaturesincludes: 94±0.25° C. for denaturing, 56±0.25° C. for annealing and70±0.25° C. for extending. In another instance, one or more of thetemperatures and/or tolerances may be different.

A temperature control device 222 (TCD) such as a thermoelectric cooler(TEC) (e.g., a Peltier device or the like) or other temperature controldevice, is configured to thermal cycle at least a portion of a loadedcarrier. As shown in FIG. 3, when the sample carrier 206 is loaded inthe carrier receiving region 204, the TCD 222 is in substantial thermalcontact with the PCR region 212. As shown in FIG. 4, when thecalibration carrier 208 is loaded in the carrier receiving region 204,the TCD 222 is in substantial thermal contact with the PCR region 216.

A temperature sensor 224 is configured to measure a temperature at theperiphery of sample carrier 206 next to the PCR regions 212 and 216. Thesensor 224 generates a signal indicative of the measured temperature.

A thermal control system 226 includes computer readable storage mediumsuch as physical memory 228 in which a predetermined set of targetsample temperatures and corresponding timing 230 (e.g., temperatures andtiming for PCR) for a loaded carrier are stored. The memory 228 alsoincludes a temperature map 232, which includes values that map thepredetermined set of target sample temperatures of the targettemperatures and corresponding timing 230 to a set of temperatures at ofthe TCD 222 which regulates the temperature of the channels 210 in thePCR region 212 and hence the samples therein at the predetermined set oftarget sample temperatures.

The thermal control system 226 also includes a processor 234 thatcontrols the TCD 222. Where the TCD 222 includes a Peltier device, thisincludes applying a voltage across the TCD 222 to regulate thetemperature of the TCD 222 and hence the portion of the loaded carrierin substantial thermal contact with the TCD 222, which, in this exampleincludes the PCR region 212 of the sample carrier 206 or the PCR region216 of the calibration carrier 208. The illustrated thermal controlsystem 226 is configured to operate in at least two modes of operation,including a calibration mode in which data for generating thetemperature map 232 is obtained and a sample processing mode in which asample carried by the sample carrier 206 is processed using thetemperature map 232.

In calibration mode, the thermal control system 224 controls thetemperature of the TCD 222 and hence the temperature of the channels 214in the PCR region 216 based on the predetermined set of targettemperatures and the temperatures of the channels 214 in the PCR region216, which are measured by the thermocouples 218. FIG. 5 illustrates anexample graph showing the relationship between temperatures 502 at theperiphery of the calibration carrier 208 and channel temperatures 504,506, 508 maintained at the set of predetermined sample targettemperatures 510, 512, 514, as a function of time. The temperatures 502at the periphery of the calibration carrier 208 measured by the sensor224 that maintain the temperatures 504-508 of the channels 214 at thepredetermined set of target temperatures 510-514 are used to generatethe temperature map 232.

In sample processing mode, the thermal control system 224 controls thetemperature of the TCD 222 and hence the temperature of the channels 210in the PCR region 212 and the samples therein based on the predeterminedset of target temperatures and corresponding timing 230, the temperaturemap 232, and the temperature at the periphery of the sample carrier 206,which is measured by the sensor 224. FIG. 6 illustrates an example graphshowing temperatures 602 at the periphery of the sample carrier 206,sample temperatures 604, 606, 608, and the set of predetermined sampletarget temperatures 510, 512, 514, as a function of time, using anapproach in which the TCD temperature is controlled based on the set ofsample target temperatures, the temperature map, and temperaturesmeasured at the periphery of the sample carrier by the sensor 224.

Note that in the examples of FIGS. 5 and 6, in order to maintain asubstantially constant temperature for each of the target sampletemperatures for each given time duration of each step (i.e.,denaturing, annealing and extending), the temperature of the TCD 222 isvaried non-linearly over the time duration. In another embodiment, thetemperature of the TCD 222 may instead vary linearly and/or otherwise.In yet another embodiment, the temperature of the TCD 222 may instead besubstantially constant.

It is to be understood that the geometry and/or spatial orientation ofthe components of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are provided for explanatory purposesand are not limiting. In addition, the target temperatures andcorresponding timing 230 and/or the temperature map 232 can additionallyor alternatively be included in medium other than that of the computerreadable storage medium or memory 228 such as in transitory medium suchas a carrier wave, a signal and/or other medium other than computerreadable storage medium.

FIG. 7 illustrates a non-limiting method for generating the temperaturemap 232.

It is to be appreciated that the ordering of the following acts is notlimiting. As such, the acts can be otherwise ordered, including one ormore of the acts being concurrent with one or more of the other acts. Inaddition, one or more of the acts may be omitted and/or one or more actsmay be added.

At 702, a set of target sample temperatures is obtained for the sampleprocessing apparatus 202. As discussed herein, the set of targettemperatures may correspond to PCR temperatures and include the set oftemperatures in the target temperature and corresponding timing 228.

At 704, the calibration carrier 208, which includes thermocouples inthermal communication with at least a sub-set of the channels of thecalibration carrier, is installed in the carrier receiving region 204 ofthe sample processing apparatus 202, with the PCR region 216 in thermalcommunication with the TCD 222.

At 706, the TCD 222 is controlled so that the temperatures of thechannels 214 in the PCR region 216 are cycled through the set of targetsample temperatures. This may include taking a single measurement ormultiple measurements for each of a plurality of the channels 214 viacorresponding thermocouples 218, averaging the measurements across thechannels to determine a representative temperature for the channels 214,and using the representative temperature as feedback to control the TCD222.

At 708, concurrently with act 706, the sensor 224 is used to measure thetemperature at the periphery of the calibration carrier 208.

At 710, the temperature map 232 is generated based on the temperaturesat the periphery of the calibration carrier 208 and the representativetemperature for the channels 214, for at least each of the temperaturesin the set of target temperatures.

By way of example, for a denaturing temperature of 94±0.25° C., achannel temperature of 94° C. at time T1 may correspond to a TCDtemperature of 98° C. as measured at the periphery of the calibrationcarrier 208, a channel temperature of 94° C. at time T2 may correspondto a TCD temperature of 95° C. as measured at the periphery of thecalibration carrier 208, a channel temperature of 94° C. at time T3 maycorrespond to a TCD temperature of 93° C. as measured at the peripheryof the calibration carrier 208, and a channel temperature of 94° C. attime T4 may correspond to a TCD temperature of 92° C. as measured at theperiphery of the calibration carrier 208.

With this example, the temperature map 232 includes values that map asample temperature of 94° C. to a TCD temperature of 98° C. at T1 asmeasured at the periphery of the sample carrier 206, a sampletemperature of 94° C. to a TCD temperature of 95° C. at T2 as measuredat the periphery of the sample carrier 206, a sample temperature of 94°C. to a TCD temperature of 93° C. at T3 as measured at the periphery ofthe sample carrier 206, and a sample temperature of 94° C. to a TCDtemperature of 92° C. at T4 as measured at the periphery of the samplecarrier 206.

It is to be understood that the above example is for explanatorypurposes and is not limiting. For example, the mapping between channeltemperature and TCD temperature may be different. In addition, themapping may include more or less time points. Furthermore, the set oftemperatures in the map may be used to determine other temperaturemapping via interpolation, extrapolation, coefficient expansion, and/orotherwise. Moreover, a similar approach can be used to determine amapping for the annealing and/or the extending steps of the replicationprocess.

The temperature map 232 can be generated and/or updated beforeprocessing each set of samples, after processing a predetermined numberof sets of samples, based on a predetermined time period, on demand,based on a calibration schedule, and/or other criteria.

FIG. 8 illustrates a non-limiting method for employing the temperaturemap 232.

It is to be appreciated that the ordering of the following acts is notlimiting. As such, the acts can be otherwise ordered, including one ormore of the acts being concurrent with one or more other of the acts. Inaddition, one or more of the acts may be omitted and/or one or more actsmay be added.

At 802, a set of target temperatures is obtained for the sampleprocessing apparatus 202. As discussed herein, the set of targettemperatures may correspond to PCR temperatures and include the set oftemperatures in the target temperature and corresponding timing 228.

At 804, a temperature map 232 is obtained. As discussed herein, thetemperature map 232 maps a set of target sample temperatures to TCDtemperatures that thermal cycle the sample based on the set of targettemperatures. FIG. 7 includes an example method for determining thetemperature map 232.

At 806, the sample carrier 206 is installed in the carrier receivingregion 204 of the sample processing apparatus 202 with the PCR region212 in thermal communication with the TCD 222.

At 808, the TCD 222 is controlled based on the set of targettemperatures of the target temperatures and corresponding timing 230 andthe temperature map 232 to thermal cycle the sample(s) carried by thesample carrier 206, for example, in connection with PCR and DNA sampleanalysis based on the set of target temperatures of the targettemperatures and corresponding timing 230.

By way of example, for a denaturing temperature of 94±0.25° C., wherethe temperature map maps a 94° C. sample temperature to a TCDtemperature of 98° C. at T1, the thermal control system 226 controls theTCD 222 to produce a temperature of 98° C. at T1 as measured at theperiphery of the sample carrier 206, where the temperature map maps a94° C. sample temperature to a TCD temperature of 95° C. at T2, thethermal control system 226 controls the TCD 222 to produce a temperatureof 95° C. at T2 as measured at the periphery of the sample carrier 206,etc.

Similar to FIG. 7, the above example is for explanatory purposes and isnot limiting.

-   -   The above may be implemented via one or more processors        executing one or more computer readable instructions encoded or        embodied on computer readable storage medium such as physical        memory which causes the one or more processors to carry out the        various acts and/or other functions and/or acts. Additionally or        alternatively, the one or more processors can execute        instructions carried by transitory medium such as a signal or        carrier wave.

The application has been described with reference to variousembodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others uponreading the application. It is intended that the invention be construedas including all such modifications and alterations, including insofaras they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: obtaining, with acontroller of a thermal control system, a target sample temperature,from a computer memory of the thermal control system that stores thetarget sample temperature, for a sample for a first sub-step, of aplurality of predetermined sub-steps, of a processing step, of aplurality of predetermined processing steps, to be performed on thesample, wherein the first sub-step of the processing step is one of adenaturing, an annealing or an extending of a replication of apolymerase chain reaction sub-step; obtaining, with the controller ofthe thermal control system, a temperature map, from the computer memoryof the thermal control system that stores the temperature map, whereinthe temperature map provides a mapping between the target sampletemperature, as measured by a thermocouple in thermal communication witha channel of a calibration carrier with the target sample temperatureapplied to the channel, and a plurality of different temperatures for athermal control device, wherein the plurality of different temperaturesare different from each other and different from the target sampletemperature and correspond to different time points, of a predeterminedset of time points, of the first sub-step; identifying, with thecontroller of the thermal control system, for a first time point of thedifferent time points for the first sub-step, a first temperature of theplurality of different temperatures using the mapping between the targetsample temperature and the plurality of different temperatures and thefirst time point; and controlling, with the controller of the thermalcontrol system, a temperature of the thermal control device at the firsttime point of the first sub-step to be the first temperature, whereinthe thermal control device is in thermal communication with a channel ofa sample carrier carrying the sample and controls a temperature of thesample.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying, for asecond time point of the different time points for the first sub-step, asecond temperature of the plurality of different temperatures using themapping between the target sample temperature and the plurality ofdifferent temperatures and the second time point; and controlling thetemperature of the thermal control device at the second time point ofthe sub-step to be the second temperature.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the controlling of the temperature at the second time point ofthe sub-step to be the second temperature includes changing thetemperature non-linearly to change the temperature from the firsttemperature to the second temperature.
 4. The method of claim 2, whereinthe controlling of the temperature at the second time point of thesub-step to be the second temperature includes changing the temperaturelinearly to change the temperature from the first temperature to thesecond temperature.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:maintaining a temperature of the channel of the sample carrier carryingthe sample at approximately a same temperature for the first and secondtime points of the sub-step by changing the temperature of the thermalcontrol device from the first temperature at the first time point to thesecond temperature at the second time point.
 6. The method of claim 2,further comprising: identifying, for at least one additional time pointof the different time points, at least one additional temperature of theplurality of different temperatures using the mapping between the targetsample temperature and the plurality of different temperatures and theat least one additional time point; and controlling the temperature ofthe thermal control device at the at least one additional time point ofthe sub-step to be the at least one additional temperature.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the controlling of the temperature includesgradually changing the temperature from the second temperature to the atleast one additional temperature.
 8. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: maintaining a temperature of the channel of the samplecarrier carrying the sample at approximately a same temperature for thefirst, the second and the at least one additional time points of thesub-step by changing the temperature of the thermal control device fromthe first temperature at the first time point to the second temperatureat the second time point to the at least one additional temperature atthe at least one additional time point.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein maintaining the temperature of the channel maintains anapproximately constant temperature of the sample.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the approximately constant temperature is a temperaturefrom a group consisting of: 94±0.25° C.; 56±0.25° C., and 70±0.25° C.11. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step is a DNAsequencing step.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of thedenaturing, the annealing and the extending of replication, thetemperature of the sample is approximately constant.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: controlling, with the controller of thethermal control system, the temperature of the thermal control device toset a temperature of a channel of a calibration carrier at the targetsample temperature; measuring, with the thermocouple in thermalcommunication with the channel of the calibration carrier, a temperatureof the calibration carrier concurrently with controlling the temperatureof the channel of the thermal control device which results in thetemperature of the channel of the calibration carrier being at thetarget sample temperature; and determining, with the controller of thethermal control system, the mapping between the target sampletemperature and a first temperature of the plurality of differenttemperatures based on the target sample temperature and the measuredtemperature.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the temperature of thecalibration carrier is a temperature at a periphery of the calibrationcarrier, and temperature at the periphery of the calibration carrier isdifferent from the temperature of the channel.
 15. The method of claim1, further comprising: obtaining at least one additional target sampletemperature, wherein the temperature map provides at least oneadditional mapping between the at least one additional target sampletemperature and at least one additional set of temperatures of thethermal control device for at least one additional sub-step of theprocessing step; identifying, for a time point of the at least oneadditional sub-step, a temperature of the at least one additional set oftemperatures using the at least one additional mapping between the atleast one additional target sample temperature and the at least oneadditional set of temperatures and the time point of the at least oneadditional sub-set; and controlling the temperature of the thermalcontrol device at the time point of the at least one additional sub-setat the at least one additional set of temperatures.
 16. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising: controlling the temperature of the thermalcontrol device to set a temperature of a channel of a calibrationcarrier at the target sample temperature; measuring a temperature at aperiphery of the calibration carrier concurrently with controlling thetemperature of the thermal control device to set the temperature of thechannel of the calibration carrier at the target sample temperature; anddetermining the mapping between the target sample temperature and afirst temperature of the plurality of different temperatures based onthe target sample temperature and the measured temperature.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising: controlling the temperature ofthe thermal control device to set the temperature of the channel of thecalibration carrier at the at least one additional target sampletemperature; measuring the temperature at the periphery of thecalibration carrier concurrently with controlling the temperature of thethermal control device to set the temperature of the channel of thecalibration carrier at the at least one additional target sampletemperature; and determining the mapping between the at least oneadditional target sample temperature and a second temperature of theplurality of different temperatures based on the at least one additionaltarget sample temperature and the measured temperature.
 18. The methodof claim 17, wherein the target sample temperature and the at least oneadditional target sample temperature are from a group consisting of:94±0.25° C.; 56±0.25° C., and 70±0.25° C.
 19. The method of claim 11,wherein the thermal control device is a thermoelectric cooler.
 20. Amethod, comprising: obtaining, with a controller of a thermal controlsystem, a target sample temperature, from a computer memory of thethermal control system that stores the target sample temperature, for asample for a first sub-step, of a plurality of predetermined sub-steps,of a processing step, of a plurality of predetermined processing steps,to be performed on the sample; obtaining, with the controller of thethermal control system, a temperature map, from the computer memory ofthe thermal control system that stores the temperature map, wherein thetemperature map provides a mapping between the target sampletemperature, as measured by a thermocouple in thermal communication witha channel of a calibration carrier with the target sample temperatureapplied to the channel, and a plurality of different temperatures for athermal control device, wherein the plurality of different temperaturesare different from each other and different from the target sampletemperature and correspond to different time points, of a predeterminedset of time points, of the first sub-step; identifying, with thecontroller of the thermal control system, for a first time point of thedifferent time points for the first sub-step, a first temperature of theplurality of different temperatures using the mapping between the targetsample temperature and the plurality of different temperatures and thefirst time point; and controlling, with the controller of the thermalcontrol system, a temperature of the thermal control device at the firsttime point of the first sub-step to be the first temperature, whereinthe thermal control device is in thermal communication with a channel ofa sample carrier carrying the sample and controls a temperature of thesample, and wherein the thermal control device is a thermoelectriccooler.
 21. An apparatus, comprising: a controller of a thermal controlsystem configured to: obtain a target sample temperature, from acomputer memory of the thermal control system that stores the targetsample temperature, for a sample for a first sub-step, of a plurality ofpredetermined sub-steps, of a processing step, of a plurality ofpredetermined processing steps, to be performed on the sample, whereinthe first sub-step of the processing step is one of a denaturing, anannealing or an extending of a replication of a polymerase chainreaction sub-step; obtain a temperature map, from the computer memory ofthe thermal control system that stores the temperature map, wherein thetemperature map provides a mapping between the target sampletemperature, as measured by a thermocouple in thermal communication witha channel of a calibration carrier with the target sample temperatureapplied to the channel, and a plurality of different temperatures for athermal control device, wherein the plurality of different temperaturesare different from each other and different from the target sampletemperature and correspond to different time points, of a predeterminedset of time points, of the first sub-step; identify, for a first timepoint of the different time points for the first sub-step, a firsttemperature of the plurality of different temperatures using the mappingbetween the target sample temperature and the plurality of differenttemperatures and the first time point; and control a temperature of thethermal control device at the first time point of the first sub-step tobe the first temperature, wherein the thermal control device is inthermal communication with a channel of a sample carrier carrying thesample and controls a temperature of the sample.
 22. An apparatus,comprising: a controller of a thermal control system configured to:obtain a target sample temperature, from a computer memory of thethermal control system that stores the target sample temperature, for asample for a first sub-step, of a plurality of predetermined sub-steps,of a processing step, of a plurality of predetermined processing steps,to be performed on the sample; obtain a temperature map, from thecomputer memory of the thermal control system that stores thetemperature map, wherein the temperature map provides a mapping betweenthe target sample temperature, as measured by a thermocouple in thermalcommunication with a channel of a calibration carrier with the targetsample temperature applied to the channel, and a plurality of differenttemperatures for a thermal control device, wherein the plurality ofdifferent temperatures are different from each other and different fromthe target sample temperature and correspond to different time points,of a predetermined set of time points, of the first sub-step; identify,for a first time point of the different time points for the firstsub-step, a first temperature of the plurality of different temperaturesusing the mapping between the target sample temperature and theplurality of different temperatures and the first time point; andcontrol a temperature of the thermal control device at the first timepoint of the first sub-step to be the first temperature, wherein thethermal control device is in thermal communication with a channel of asample carrier carrying the sample and controls a temperature of thesample, and wherein the thermal control device is a thermoelectriccooler.